FRANKFORT, Ky. (5/21/13) – U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, today announced that his legislation, The Freedom to Fish Act, unanimously passed the House of Representatives. The legislation will place a two-year moratorium of the Army Corps of Engineer’s plan to erect barriers along the Cumberland River in Kentucky and Tennessee.

“I am pleased that we were able halt the Corps’ overreaching plan to take away some of the best fishing in Kentucky,” stated Whitfield. “The Corps has tried rushing through with their plan to implement permanent restrictions without providing any information on their rationale for doing so. With the passage of this legislation we can now work toward a solution that doesn’t take away one of Kentucky’s favorite pastimes – fishing.”

The Freedom to Fish Act, which was introduced by Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, is co-sponsored by Senators Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul and Bob Corker. It will now be sent to President Obama to be signed into law.

Whitfield has been an early and frequent opponent of the Corps’ plan to permanently restrict fishing in the tail waters along Cumberland River dams.